Tokyo, a vast metropolis, sprawls across the southeastern part of Honshu Island, encompassing the Kanto Plain along the shores of Tokyo Bay in the Pacific Ocean. Officially designated as a unique metropolitan area, it also includes the islands of Ogasawara, Izu, and more. Tokyo's total land area exceeds 2,188 square kilometers.
The population of Tokyo is over 13 million people, and this number swells by an average of 2.5 million during daylight hours due to commuters from the suburbs. The city is a diverse melting pot, home to residents from various backgrounds, including Chinese, South Koreans, Filipinos, and many other nationalities.
Tokyo has a rich history dating back to 1457 when it began as a feudal castle in the quaint fishing village of Edo. In just a few decades, it transformed into the capital of the shogunate, the seat of influential clans, and, following the establishment of the Meiji era in 1868, the residence of the imperial family and court.
Tokyo's major economic and industrial growth occurred during the Shōwa era. In the modern period of Heisei, there has been a strong focus on social, environmental, sports, and cultural development. Tokyo continues to expand with projects like artificial islands, with Odaiba now standing as one of Japan's largest entertainment and shopping hubs.
